2) Was this your original major? If not, what was your original major and why did you decide to change?

These were both my original majors – though I had considered special education as a career path when I was in high school.

3) What made you choose your major?

Since a very young age I was always very aware of my surroundings and my mom even claims I was constantly pushing our living room furniture around when I was little. I loved the conceptual aspect of interior design and the ability to shape the way that people use and interact with their environment. In terms of art education, I sort of fell into it after graduating. I worked as a teacher at YouthBuild Boston teaching architecture and design to high school students and loved the impact these skills had on the students’ confidence. I saw the way that art and design could empower students and loved that I could help them on that path.

4) What were your favorite college classes?

The classes that challenged me to think in a different way were always my favorite. I had a two week intensive studio class in my graduate program that was meant to build our artistic portfolios. In that timespan I developed my artistic style from being small sculptures to a large scale installation piece that I am very proud of.

I was also able to travel abroad during my undergrad to France and get some amazing firsthand experience in the design field that were absolutely invaluable.

5) What advice do you have for students interested in the same major?

For Interior Design – Get yourself into the field before you even complete your degree – getting that hands on experience and making those connections to people in the industry will be your key to getting a job after you graduate. Internships and site visits are crucial to getting a full understanding of the design process and all that it involves.

For Art Education – Try everything! It is so important to know how to use a wide variety of art media so that you can pass that knowledge along. BUT don’t be afraid to teach something you don’t know everything about, you will learn so much more from your students than you could imagine.